HOW TO MAKE YOUR CHILD A MODEL IN NEW YORK
So, you want your child to become a model.
Where do you start? Who can help? How much do you have to pay?
I've been through all these questions in 2004 when I decided to try my then 2 years daughter in modeling. As of this writing Kate is a well known model with a solid portfolio. She made a cover of Vogue Bambini in 2008 and recently began her TV commercials career. My 6 years old son is following Kate's path and his modeling career is quickly picking up as well. He has been in Vogue Bambini several times and did work for Ralph Lauren, J.Crew, Macy's and many other companies.
This article shares our experience and outlines many issues that we've encountered during our journey into the world of children modeling. It also explains how I can help with the process.
After reading this article:
- You’ll be able to distinguish a real modeling agency from a modeling scam.
- You’ll be able to save hundreds of dollars and lots of your valuable time by avoiding scams.
- You’ll understand the process of entering modeling world - end to end.
- You’ll be well prepared for rejections.
- You’ll know how to handle success.
If after reading this article and doing further research you feel that you can use help in managing the process of getting your child into modeling, I offer the following services:
- Taking snapshots of your child in a way that agencies like best.
- Directly email the snapshots to agents that I know personally.
- Manage retries in case of rejections as I get the feedback why a rejection happened.
- Consult on how to get through initial interview with an agency.
Call me at 1.845.725.7865 or email info@dgphotostudio.com.
You can also find me on FaceBook
I’ll be glad to help.
Part I. Initial research. Learn how to avoid scams.
There are many ways to start looking for information on children modeling. Most people start by searching Google for something like "kids modeling".
The results are amazing. There are hundreds if not thousands of companies that presumably want your child. Sounds good, doesn't it?! The market must be hot and your kid is almost a model,- all it takes is to call and make an appointment!
Once you call, most of these companies would schedule an appointment within a very short time frame. You'll be treated very nice upon the arrival, - lots of compliments, smiles, etc.
They will show you many pictures of kids allegedly made models by them. Very interesting earning numbers will be casually mentioned. Pictures of kids that make these moneys will be shown. You might quickly realize that kid looks much more prettier, hence your chances are pretty high, right? They might give you a story how wonderful the life of a child model is, how nicely vendors treat their kids and that you'll have private "go sees" without having to wait in lines.
Once you get to a company like this, the smartest thing you should do is to leave right away. The business model of these agencies is very clever. Before your child starts making money through them, if ever, you will be charged initially and the fee will not be small. This way, even if your child never gets a job they still would make very good money off you and people like you.
You'll probably pay them around $400-$600+ for a photo shoot session with your kid and get a photo album a.k.a portfolio for you to take to the castings a.k.a. "go sees". They may charge additional fee for posting your child's picture on their website. You'll most likely will be offered to sign a contract on the spot. Be very careful with those contracts and never sign anything without having your lawyer review it first. Read it yourself as well as lawyers make mistakes and it is your child's career that may get seriously screwed up.
At the end, you'll need to invest from $400 to $1000 to "make" your child a model with these agencies. Unfortunately, the money spent don't guarantee anything at all.
At best you are buying a very expensive photo album of your child’s pictures.
Please remember just this one point that should stick to your mind forever:
Portfolio is NOT needed to enter kids modeling world. At all. Period.
Companies that offer it as a prerequisite are in the business of selling dreams. These companies make enough money on people like you. Not a single real modeling agency works with these companies. I have never seen anyone coming to jobs that my children are doing from an agency other than top 10 in NY. Think about it.
Is there any other way? Certainly. A very easy one, actually.
Facts that everyone needs to know about modeling agencies in New York.
1. Real agencies in NYC don't charge a single $ for reviewing children’s snapshots. The submission is free as well.
2. Please note - we are saying - a snapshot, not a modeling picture with a make-up but a plain snapshot of your kid. That's all it takes as modeling agencies don't like studio pictures to be submitted. All you need to send is a snapshot unless they specifically ask otherwise.
3. Usually a real Modeling Agency will not make an appointment with you without seeing a snapshot of your child first.
4. If a real agency calls you for an appointment you will not be charged or offered any portfolio deals. At least not until your child gets a few jobs done and they may see a benefit of making a portfolio for him or her. Some agencies might pay for it, some will ask you to pay but your child would be a working model by then. Nothing wrong in taking some of the earning and investing them into the further career advancement.
5. Real modeling agencies don't work with brokers mentioned above. All the stories your hear about such relationships are pure lies.
6. Top modeling agencies need new kids but they don't charge you for doing business with them. They charge clients that hire their models and then take a percentage from that amount before paying you for the work done. I feel like saying it over again to ensure this settles in your mind.
7. Last, but not the least, the real modeling agencies will not guarantee work for your child or promise any special treatments when it comes to "go sees" or jobs. Unless it is a requested "go see" specifically set up for your child, you will be standing in line with everyone else.
Part II. You know what a real modeling agency is but how do you get to it?
1. Search the web for Ford Modeling, Wilhelmina, Product, GenerationMM - top NYC modeling agencies and find out their submission requirements. Most of them will require just a few snapshots of your child, preferably standing, dressed, with full body visible, stamped envelope with agency's address, a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want a rejection reply in writing and your pictures back. Don't forget to write on the back of each photo child's name, height, weight, date of birth and your contact information.
Take a few snapshots of your kid. I can help with that task as we know how to take snapshots that catch agency’s attention.
3. Send the snapshots to each agency as per requirements listed on their sites. Don't hesitate to call them if you can't find these requirements. They will tell you their preferred way of submitting pictures to them. An email might be an option. I can help here as well as I have direct connection to some of the agencies. I cannot guarantee that any of the agents I know will take you. Promising such a thing would be a lie. However, in case a rejection happens - the reasons are usually shared with me. It allows me to do a better targeted retry. Normally agencies do not explain why they didn’t take a candidate but they do encourage you to re-try.
4. Wait for their feedback. You will either receive your pictures back or if they like your child - they will call you for an appointment.
That's all there is to it. By now you know how to tell a real agency from a fake one. You know best NY agencies and how to submit your child to them. Let’s move on to a very important part of the process - dealing with rejections.
Part III. How to deal with rejections by children modeling agencies.
1. Don't get frustrated. You must not. It is a process, that's all. The letter you received probably suggested to try again later. They actually mean it. Kids grow and change a lot within months and agencies always look for new faces.
2. Take new snapshots with another haircut may be or a different angle or choice of clothes (make it plain though) and try sending these letters again in a month or so. Keep trying, you never know. We know parents who's persistency paid off. My daughter was rejected by all the agencies but one. She is now a well known model featured on covers and in catalogues of Vogue Bambini, J.Crew, Macy's, Best & Co, ToysRUs, Target, The Children's Place and many other United States and European companies. Persistency folks. That's all it takes to get in the business! Well, patience as well.
Always remember. If your goal is to make your child a model you should never give up and keep trying as the industry needs different looks and there are opportunities for everyone.
Part IV. The Success. How to deal with it and what to expect.
Getting accepted is an accomplishment of a great magnitude. Staying in the industry takes some serious sacrifices of time, - both yours and your child’s as well as consistent effort and persistency.
1. If your child is accepted by a modeling agency, how fast things will become busy depends on luck and your willingness to attend lots of "go sees". In case of my daughter it took about 7 months. I know kids who didn’t have this period at all.
2. If your child is accepted by several agencies and you have hard times to decide which one to choose, - I can suggest based on our experience with them. However, the decision is totally yours. Make sure that you don't work with several of modeling agencies at the same time. There is very little benefit in it and consequences can be very bad for you.
3. Be prepared to get very short notice calls from your agency about next day jobs or "go sees". Sometimes they can call at 5PM or even later in the day but normally there is enough time to re-schedule your plans.
4. In the beginning of your child's career, you may go for a lot of "go sees" and they would not seem to work out. It is very important not to get discouraged and skip on the "go sees" because most companies keep the snapshots "on file" for a long time and you may get called for work later on.
5. If you live outside of New York, you will need to get used to driving through Manhattan's "jungles" and get used to paying $25+/hr for parking fees. Pretty soon you'll know all the best parking spaces in downtown and midtown areas.
6. If you get vacations days at work, you'll probably be taking them for going to work with your child.
Part V. Children Modeling. Is it worth the effort?.
Is it worth it? It depends on your objective. I've seen parents who do nothing but this work with their kids. Most children love doing modeling as this is fun for them. At the same time it is also very hard work believe it or not. As a result, children learn how to be responsible, work in a team environment and control their emotions from a very early age.
Of course there is a monetary factor present as well. Most of the parents I know never tell their children that they are earning anything. The rationale is not to hide the earnings from them but to concentrate on the fun and creative aspects of this work.
One boy's father once told me that even no one in the family including grand-mother and uncle know that his 6 year old son works in modeling for 4 years. We find it to be a bit of a stretch but everyone is different.
It is up to you how you want to handle this issue with your children. We are just commenting on what we see around us.
The pay for children modeling ranges from $50 to $150-250 an hour. You may also get paid by day, which is usually starts from $500-$600. Everyone is different, don't quote these numbers, please. You may be paid much higher or lower rates depending on specifics of the job. The agency takes 20%. The longer your child is doing it the more s/he becomes known and eventually rates will go higher, "go sees" will get more and more targeted to your child's profile and you'll be called a lot more often just to come to work without any "go sees".
Sometimes you'll get very nice jobs in terms of both money and general interest. You can get on a paid cruise or ski resort with your child for a few days of shooting and get paid $600-$1000+ per day. There are TV commercials that pay a lot better than fashion modeling and other very sweet offers that can come your way. But mostly it would be a routine $100-$150/hr work unless your child will become a super model who works on very highly paid contracts all the time.
So now that you know the deal, you may ask what's there in it for me to tell you all the "trade" secrets of children modeling business. The answer is rather simple. I have placed many kids into modeling through the top modeling agencies in New York. Some children have quit because their parents couldn't handle the load, some still do it and quite successfully. Both of my children work on a regular basis which keeps grandma extremely happy and busy.
I also hate the industry of lies and deceits that has grown so big charging hopeful parents crazy amounts of money by selling fake promises that there seem to be no way to stop it. This is my attempt to shed some light on this industry and making you aware of it. It is your choice to use it or not.
Finally, I enjoy the process. I love to see my kids on cover pages, on the web, on huge posters of Macy's and other big name stores. It makes me feel good and allows me to meet new people, learn of what they do and show them what I can do for them.
Thank you for reading this article. Do drop me a note if you find this information useful.
You can use my FaceBook page to leave your feedback.
If you want my help with this process, please call me at 1.845.725.7865, email info@dgphotostudio.com of find me on FaceBook.
I will be glad to help.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article on children modeling and learned some useful information.
With Love,
Galina.
P. S.
Please read about modeling scams from below online resources prior to making any commitments:
Learn about modeling scams from ModelingAdvice.com
Very thorough resource on modeling scams by ModelingScams.org
An extensive article with real life examples by the Crimes of Persuasion
